2020 CityCenter Danbury Farmers’ Market COVID-19 Protocols (4/28/20)

We believe that farmers markets provide essential food access to our community, and we will continue to do so as safely as possible during the public health emergency. There is no evidence that food is a source or transmission route for the virus. The health, safety and overall well-being of our farmers market community is always our top priority.

To keep our farmers and shoppers safe, the Danbury Farmers’ Market and the City of Danbury Health Department has compiled these protocols with guidance from state associations and the Centers for Disease Control. Protocols are subject to change.

Protocols for Vendors, Shoppers, Staff & Volunteers

Vendors will only sell fresh produce and pre-packaged CT farm products for carry-out.
Everyone who attends the market is required to wear a mask/cloth face covering.
Market managers, staff/volunteers, and vendors must wear gloves.
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever or dry cough should stay home.
A limited number of people will be allowed to enter the market at one time.
Groups of families will not be permitted to shop together until the Governor’s social distancing order has been lifted.
Vendors and shoppers are required to sanitize their hands prior to entering the market.
Maintain proper social distancing – a space of 6’ between individuals.
Shoppers will not be permitted to congregate.
6’ of space is required between vendors and shoppers with no more than 2 customers at a booth at a time.
Vendors should use empty tables as a barrier between the customer and the produce/food.
Shoppers will not handle any items on the vendors’ tables but, instead, will request what they want, and vendors will bag their purchases.
No sampling of any kind is allowed.
Market managers will wipe down commonly used services, such as the market information table, EBT redemption devices (phones, card swipers), and have hand sanitizer available.
Market managers will provide signage to inform shoppers of the guidelines as they enter the market.
Market managers will institute one-way movement, allowing for one point of entry and exit.
Vendors are asked not to use cloth tablecloths to make it easier to sanitize surfaces; or place a sheet of plastic over the top of vendor tables which can be wiped down with sanitizer.
Vendors are encouraging to have one person to handle money and another to handle product.
Vendors are encouraged to have touchless forms of payment (PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, etc.).
Vendors should have their own supply of hand sanitizer and/or hand-washing stations for their personal use throughout the day (a water jug, hand soap, paper towels and a catch bucket work well).

Proper Cleaning Protocol

Vendors must clean and sanitize their supplies and equipment regularly:

For surfaces that will be in contact with food or food products (such as produce bins, coolers, boxes, tools), use detergents and sanitizing solutions that are food safe:

Clean the surface with a detergent (for example, Dawn dish detergent) and rinse thoroughly.
Use an EPA-approved sanitizer product that is approved for use on food contact surfaces.
Follow the label instructions for the sanitizer you use when mixing, applying and storing it. Some sanitizers require contact time on the surface to be effective, and others require a rinse step.
Allow the surface to air dry.

To clean and sanitize surfaces that will not come into contact with food or food products (such as chairs, tables, truck beds):

Clean the surface with a detergent (for example, Dawn dish detergent) and rinse thoroughly.
Use a product that the EPA has approved for use against viruses and other emerging pathogens.
Follow the label instructions for the sanitizer you use when mixing, applying and storing it. Some sanitizers require contact time on the surface to be effective, and others require a rinse step.
Allow the surface to air dry.